The Past Week!

In the past week I have just been working on my paper and outline. I was able to complete my outline and thenb move onto my paper. I am currently on my 6th question and only have 4 more questions to do, I will then check it for errors and turn in my first rought draft. This draft will need to be changed several times, however I will try to get as much down as possible, before Monday, when we have to turn it in.

June 25, 2008

Today, I just worked on my Work Citied Page. I used all of the articles and webpages that were in MLA form in my Webliography, however I used many additional sources as well. So, I had to take the time to put them in MLA and put them on the Work Cited Page. I also printed up 4 articles that i am going to read and put into my notes. I am going to continue to do that until the notes are do, maybe just one and not 4 next time though.

NOTES!

Today, I met with you and we both went over my notes. We found that my notes are really good, and you helped me find some ways to help narrow down certain questions. I was also able to find more articles to help inform me about what the PSSA tests are and ones that helped me answer other questions. Tomorrow, I will continue to take notes and tonight I will find another article and answer some more questions, I hope.

All I see are NOTES!!!

Today, I found more articles and highlighted important information that would answer my questions. The article I found was Mrs. Bush's letter. I found this when I came across a good website, Reach Out and Read. This is an organization that helps with illiteracy but also notices what medical problems contribute to illiteracy. I posted this website on my blog because I think this is one that I will constantly refer back to. I also printed up my notes and turned them in, since I wasn't here on Friday.

MORE NOTES....................Collage

Today I finished my collage uploaded it and put in onto my Graduation Project page of my website. Today the classes were combined and we could work on what ever we wanted, within the two classes. I missed the first hour of class because I was with Ms. Anderson doing the interview for the HR Simulation for the 10th grade. This was really fun, being someone I'm not. When I came up, and after my collage, I worked on my notes. I read the articles that I printed up yesterday and typed them into my note documents. I then found another article and repeated the same step. I am still searching for articles that will help me answer the questions that I don't have any notes for. I really am trying, however finding notes on those questions is really hard. I will continue to work and try to find more articles that will help me.

Notes and NOTES

I was able to finish typing some more notes that were highlighted the day before. I then went and looked at all my notes and seen what questions I have notes for and what ones I don't. I found that, in questions two and eleven, I don't have any current notes. I spent the remaining time to find articles that would answer those specific questions. Some of my questions have a enormous amount of notes, because that is the most common. I am also trying to think of someone to interview as well as waiting for the lady at Children's Hospital to e-mail me back.

Interviews, Notes and Book Drive Information

Today we learned how to conduct an interview to our expert on our topic. I am also trying to find or think of someone that I can interview. I am currently waiting for the lady at Children's Hospital to e-mail me back and inform me if I would be able to do my action plan there. I was thinking that I will, this week, or early next week, start my book drive. I figured even if I can't read the books at the hopital I could still donate the books there, which are donated from the Book Drive here at school. I will write a e-mail to all the faculty members on all floors, except the Seniors, because they will be gone by then. I also continued taking notes, typing up the notes that I highlighted yesterday. I also kept looking for new articles that will help me answer my questions.

June 16, 2008

Today I dedicated my time to just looking for articles that will help me answer my questions. I was able to find Florida school FCAT test scores for reading , so I can use to anwer my question, comparing Pittsburgh high schools with other schools. I also was able to find articles that show me how people and the government are helping to end illiteracy. Tomorrow, the 17th, I will use my time to type up the new information into the note documents, than use my time to find/read new articles. I really can't wait until we go to the library so I can find some important books that will cover my topic. I also an currently thinking about someone that is an expert in my topic and I can interview them.

Notes, Letters, Proposal

Today I was able to touch up a few things on my proposal and save it to my C and H drive. I was also able to type all of my highlighted notes up on to my notes documents. After I finished that I was able to find two more great pieces of information, Public School's PSSA scores and No Child Left Behind Act information. I will read and highlight all my information on Monday. I was also able to send the Children's Hospital Volunteer request to the hospital, nbot I am just waiting for a response.

Notes and Work

Today, I was able to print 3 more articles and highlight important information that will help me answer my questions. I was also able to meet with you and you proof read my letter the Children's Hospital. When we were done talking I went and fixed the few errors and am waiting to hear Ms. Kretchman's response to see if I can send the e-mail. I also proof read Darcie's proposal for her.

June 10, 2008

I was able to finish my proposal and continue looking at some articles. I was able to read and highlight some important information that will assist me in answering the questions. I was also able to write a request to the Children's Hospital Volunteer and see if I will be able to have a few students and myself come and read to children in each ward of the hospital.

Proposal

Today I worked the whole entire time on my Proposal. I was able to finish everything except my chart telling me what I am going to do and when I am going to do it. I wrote everything in paragraph form except the the resources, that I did in bulleted. I will finish this up in class tomorrow and then continue to work on my notes.

Action Plan

After talking to you I thought more about my action plan. I decided that I want to get a few students, and myself, to donate our time, for a week, and go read to all the children in Children's Hospital. I thought I would be able to create a poster with highlight information regarding illiteracy, which will be, if it is okay, placed on the main floor lobby to the hospital. I thought for each day we could read to children on a different unit. Me and a couple other students that would be willing to help me and others. I also thought that the poster in the front lobby would be able to educate others of illiteracy and make them aware of the increasing issue in the world. I might even have a book drive, before we go to the hospital. The books that are donated are the ones that we read, but I am not really sure about that. How does that sound?

Notes and more Notes!

Today, I was able to finish typing my highlighted portions into the note documents. I then was able to organize all of my notes and type a new article. I then read through my new article and highlighted my important information. I was able to, almost, anwer a few questions, about what race or gender is affected by illiteracy more. All the additional information that I receive based on the gender and race related to illiteracy will just be additional information, because I got the statistics, which was needed to answer the question. My big questions is what can the state of Pennsylvania do to help end illieracy in high school students? I was able to find out what parents should do in order to help cut down on illiteracy and I found a little about what the government has done, in the past. It is not that hard to find the information to answer my questions, what is hard is just reading all the information and keeping it organized and trying to make sure the information you are writting down is important and needed.

Second day of note taking

Today, I was able to finish typing my notes from my first article and then I was also able to start looking at a new article. I was able to print it off, highlight my inportant parts and type them up in my note documents. Tomorrow I will continue to do the same thing, take notes.

Star Note Taking

Today, I was able to print out an article that was in my Webliography and start highlighting it. I was able to type a few notes inot my note document as well as type the author in the citation side, so I will be able to know what article gave me that information, allowing me to site it later. I was also able to find a great quote in the only article I read today. That article was able to give me some infomrormation for a few questions.

Webliography is Done!

Today, I was able to finish my Webliography as well as upload it to the Dashboard and save it to my H-Drive. I also learned about how to take notes and how to organize them, so it will be easy to write my paper. I decided that I will keep the note taking document seperate, question 1 will be on its own page and the others will have their own page. I think this will be the most productive way to take notes, for me. I am going through the process of printing off all of my articles, some are webpages and have more than one article, so I can highlight all the information that answers my questions, and only answers my questions, NO additional information until I have all the needed informaiton. I am also in the process of going on the Dashboard and getting the note taking document and saving it as individual documents, for each question.

Work

Today, May 29, 2008, I was able to get my webliography done and I even put some additional articles/webpages on there as a resource, in case I needed them, to help me answer my questions. I will, after I am done, have 12 articles/webpages in my webliography because I was able to find two extra ones that also give me important and reliable information, based on my topic questions. Tomorrow I will finish my last resource in my Webliography and I can then start my note taking, which will take a long time.

Lots of work

Today, I was able to, once again, get a large amount of work done. I now, as of today, only need two more resources for my webliography. I have 8 resources done, with my summary and questions answered and my citation done, thanks to the citation machine, that really saves time. Tomorrow I plan on finding two more resources, webpages or articles, that I can answer questions, create a summary and do my citations on it. If I can tonight, I will look for the articles and then tomorrow, in class, I can work on my webliography. Based on work I am doing pretty good and on time, if not a little bit ahead, which I hope stays that way.

May 27, 2008

Today, I was able to get a large amount of work done. I was able to finish 4 resources, webpages and articles, for my webliography. Then tomorrow, if I can get 4 more done, will only have two more to do on Thursday, I then can turn it in and be done early. My favorite part in New York was Times Square, because I was able to buy things and hang out with my friends.

Important

I uploaded my NEW questions based on our recent conversation. You asked me to let you know as soon as I did that so I wouldn't get a zero.
Danielle

May 19, 2008

Today, I spoke with Ms. King and we had a conversation about my topic in general. We realized, together, that my topic, Illiteracy, is to broad and needs to be narrow. I can find any infomation on illiteracy and I need to think about exactly one part that I find interesting and write my questions about that. So, over the break, after I get back from New York, I will rewrite my questions, making them more narrow and easier to find articles that answer the new questions, with my old questions it is REALLY hard to find answers, because it is to broad. The remaining time in class, after talking with you, I tried to start my questions and find one perticular piece of illiteracy that interests me the most, which is harder than I thought.

Thursday May 15, 2008

Today I found out that I really need help with my questions. I was absent the days that you started them and I wanted to make sure they are ok, so I can start seeing what articles are going to help me answer them. I have basic questions, about illiteracy, but the expert questions are the ones that I am having trouble with. Today, since you were not here, I look through and higlighted articles that helped me answer the basic questions. I am also having trouble looking and finding answers to my basic questions about Illiteracy. It was a long day and I don't feel like I was able to make any progress. I have some articles that answer a few parts of my questions, and they are highlighted.

May 13, 2008

Here are my Key Terms. I have been done with them and it has been uploaded for a while now, but I just found out that they needed to be posted on the blog also. Here they are:

Key Terms

[*]Illiterate: (Adjective) Offensive Terms: An offensive term for someone who lacks education and knowledge, especially someone who cannot read or write
*Nature: (Noun) Genetic material affecting organism: The inherited characteristics of an organism, as opposed to what is learned from experience or the environment
*Nurture: (Noun) Environmental influence: The influence that an organism’s environment has on the organism, especially when contrasted with what is determined genetically or by nature
*Emergent: (Adjective) New : Appearing, arising, occurring, or developing, especially for the first time
*Literate: (Adjective) Able to read and write: Having the ability to read and write
*Developmental: (Noun ) Event causing change: An incident that causes a situation to change or progress
*Disabilities: (Noun) Restricted capability to perform particular activities: An inability to perform some or all of the tasks of daily life
*Vocabulary: (Noun) Words of language: All the words in a language as a whole
*Socioeconomic: (Adjective) Economic and social: Relating to or involving economic and social factors
*Ameliorate: ( Verb) Improve: To make something better, or become better
*Comprehension: (Noun) Intellectual ability: The ability to grasp the meaning of something
*Phonics: (Noun) Reading method involving letter recognition: A method of teaching reading in which people learn to associate letters with the speech sounds they represent, rather than learning to recognize the whole word as a unit
*Retention: (Noun) Memory: The ability to remember things
*Education: (Noun) Educating: The imparting and acquiring of knowledge through teaching and learning especially at a school or similar institution
*Read: (Verb) Interpret written material: To identify and understand the meaning of the characters and words in written or printed material
*Write: (Verb) Put words on paper: To put words, letters, numbers, or musical notation on a surface using a pen, pencil or similar instrument








[*] All Definitions obtained from Encarta Dictionary

May 7, 2008

Today I was able to create a list of questions for my topic that I will have to do reaseach on to find the answers. I will have to show you, Ms. King, tomorrow and see if they are good because I don't know what they are suppose to be like, since I haven't been in school. I hope they are good questions because if they are that means that I am not behind. They are questions that are about illiteracy and how it affects people, both short and long terms. The questions are also able to show what causes Illiteracy, is it location, gender or financial. I was able to find a topic that really interests me and I think that my questions I came up with are able to show that as well. When I come back i have to talk to Ms. King to see if I am on the right track and see if what I have is correct.

May 6th

Today, I researched my project, Illiteracy, and found some resources that are really helpful. I also was able to find all of my Key Term for my topic. I was able to find 16 different terms and define all of them also. They are all related to my topic and will assist me in understanding my topic a little better. I decided that my "expert" fous will be how Illiteracy affects job opportunities for people. I really started thinking about how hard it must be to get a job if you are unable to read or write to the job's standards. I want to see how being Illiterate can effect your opportunities in a job. I seeen that this is an on going crisis and it needs to be noticed and helped, as much as possible. While I was reading I seen that in the United States the percentage of Illiteracy is 82%, which is way to high for me. I think this something that can be changed and helped, if people will donate their time and effort to the cause.

April 30th

Today, we came into class and we were given instructions on how the Friday's will work this trimester, with Electronic Portfolio and Graduation Project. We then finished our Interest activity, to help see what we want to do for or Graduation Project. We wrote down answers to questions and then we circled and color coded the ones that had everything in common. Through this I was able to see that I want to educated people and help people. I came up with the decision to do my Grad. Project on Autism.
The rest of class we took time to work and create our own blog. It is really cool, but a little confusing to start it up, with all the information you have to enter into the questions that it asks. However, I find it really cool, how we get to tell you what we did for that day, along with what we are going to do. I really like the idea that we get to help others, if we get information that will assist them with their projects. After that we just had to write in our blog and publish it.